Bill Maher Compares Factory Farms to China’s Wet Markets
If you’ve been keeping up with the news, you’ll know that the current Coronavirus pandemic is thought to have originated in one of China’s infamous “wet markets”, the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market. This has caused global outrage, as the practices that took place in these establishments have been unveiled to the world.
On the other hand, Bill Maher, former host for “Politically Incorrect” on ABC, and current host for “Real Time with Bill Maher” on HBO, has a lot to say about our criticism of China’s wet markets. It’s not that he disagrees that these practices are unhygienic and unethical; he believes something very similar is taking place in Western countries: factory farming.
Maher states that most infectious diseases are zoonotic, meaning they originate among animals. He then explains, “To thwart the Coronavirus, we’ve been told to create distance, avoid others who are sick, lower stress and exercise. Are you surprised that diseases flourish among animals when they are forced to live in conditions that are the complete opposite of all of that?” Maher goes on to mention the inhumane conditions farm animals live in, and how this cruel treatment of living beings has backfired on all of us.
See the video below for some of the highlights of Maher’s argument.
What do you think? How do wet markets and factory farms differ? In what ways are they alike? Comment below and keep the conversation going!